(CNN) - Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina is taking the initial steps to challenge California Democrat Barbara Boxer for her Senate seat, a move that could lay the groundwork for one of the most high profile and expensive contests of 2010.

Fiorina, the first woman to lead a Fortune 500 company and a former surrogate for John McCain's presidential bid, filed a tax identification number and registered a campaign committee with the IRS Tuesday called "Carly for California."

"The people of California have serious concerns about job creation, economic growth and the role of government in solving problems that touch each of ourlives," Fiorina said in a statement. "I have received a great deal of encouragement to make a run for the Senate in 2010 from people across the political spectrum because these are all issues that need focused attention in Washington, D.C."

Under the new committee, Fiorina will begin to aggressively raise money as well as speak with policy experts and campaign advisors, spokeswoman Beth Miller told CNN.

Boxer's campaign coffers are already loaded: the three-term senator's latest filing with the Federal Elections Commission shows she raised well over $2 million during the first half of the year and has close to $5.5 million cash on hand.

Though Fiorina does not have a set timetable to formally announce a Senate bid, Miller said the former Hewlett-Packard CEO's window to make a decision is only a couple of months given a GOP primary is set for next June.

A former economic adviser and visible presence on cable news, Fiorina was largely sidelined from public appearances from the McCain campaign after telling an interviewer she didn't think either member of the GOP presidential ticket was qualified to run a major company.

Democrats wasted little time in attacking Fiorina's latest move.

“This is a person who was fired from Hewlett Packard for running the company into the ground, fired from the McCain Presidential Campaign for incompetence, and now thinks the people of California are going to hire her," said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesman Eric Schultz.

Should she ultimately jump into the Senate race, Fiorina would be the second high-profile former CEO running for statewide office in California. Former e-Bay CEO Meg Whitman announced last month she was exploring a run for California governor.

soundoff(270 Responses)

Margaret

Simple question to those in favor of Boxer:

Name 3 things she has done for the state of CA. for the past 18 years. I know, this didn't work in the Presidential election, either. BUT IT WILL IN THE NEXT ELECTION. America is awake now and career politicians are going home.

BYE BYE BABS! Carly, where do we send the checks?

August 18, 2009 05:29 pm at 5:29 pm |

Bill Will

I think she would be a great representative.............. of people just like her.. Fat Cats! Where are the intelligent, caring types? Oh yeah, they start out that way and then they find that you can't make it by being that way. Am I skeptical? Hell yes! And I and everyone else should be!

August 18, 2009 05:29 pm at 5:29 pm |

twitwits are the new nitwits

I predict some of the people posting here will be in handcuffs and orange jumpsuits someday.Calling for a bloodbath?What kind of post is that?

August 18, 2009 05:30 pm at 5:30 pm |

Keeth in California

C'mon Carly. Get ready to open the books on your stint as CEO.

August 18, 2009 05:31 pm at 5:31 pm |

Richard Johnston

Obviously the right wing, lunatic fringe was tipped to Carly's announcement. Barb is one of the most hard working, sincere and efficient senators in the Senate.

August 18, 2009 05:31 pm at 5:31 pm |

David in Texas

As many jobs that she eliminated in America and then gathered in profits from cheap labor overseas, she is no friend of the American people. No, No , No...not her, never.

August 18, 2009 05:31 pm at 5:31 pm |

J. L. W.

For the best interests of the state of California and the nation Boxer and
in particular Pelosi must go. Unless we can start getting competent
legislators to properly represent the tax payers, who are paying them, and solve the horrendous problems the country is facing we are doomed. The current administration, Democratic controlled Senate & Congress will not do it. The American people are starting to wake up,
it is time the media does the same.

August 18, 2009 05:31 pm at 5:31 pm |

Paul G

Non-starter. California will throw Carly under the bus as rightly deserves.

If she were elected and ran her Senate office like she ran HP, debt would increase while sales and stock price would be falling like Chicken Little. All while "Carly" she flies around in her private jet drinking champaign and saying:

"Let them eat cake!"

August 18, 2009 05:31 pm at 5:31 pm |

Earl

Is she serious? This is the same woman who took over HP when the stock was $118 and when she left it was just $10, the lowest price was $9. She outsource so many JOBS to India/China during her time at HP, how can she claim she wants to brings JOBS back to Cal? Just ask her to bring the ones she sent over back and unemployment will drop to 5%. Please she is not the one.

August 18, 2009 05:32 pm at 5:32 pm |

rdm

she led the company off a cliff from which they have recoved some since she left.

August 18, 2009 05:32 pm at 5:32 pm |

Ken in NC

She is not a good choice for California. She would make California Alaska II.

August 18, 2009 05:32 pm at 5:32 pm |

Haas

Bring it! She'd have a better shot at governor. It'll be interesting, that's for sure!
Where's Issa? How come that snake's not running for senate...or should I say slithering.

August 18, 2009 05:33 pm at 5:33 pm |

Kay

Good for her.

August 18, 2009 05:33 pm at 5:33 pm |

John

I was at HP during Carly's reign. She ruined a great American company. I don't care how had Boxer is. I'd vote for Satan, Hitler, Stalin, and/or Pol Pot before I'd vote for Carley.

P.S. What exactly are this woman's *accomplishments*? She rose through the ranks at AT&T/Lucent, and left just before Lucent crashed and burned. She ruined Compaq and HP. She didn't help McCain.

August 18, 2009 05:34 pm at 5:34 pm |

Arizonian

Unfortunately the people who are foaming at the mouth to get rid of Boxer do not live in her district which BTW is a heavily Democratic District. Nice try right wing nuts try running her for Governor seems like she would do good at that since the last two guys you put in are the two most incompetent people in Governership

August 18, 2009 05:34 pm at 5:34 pm |

Former HPer

I used to work for HP. I started just before she took over and saw her transform a great company into a place where I could not stand to work in just a short time. Also, everyone should remember that she sent an enormous number of jobs "offshore" when she ran HP. She sings a different tune now but I don't buy it for a second.

August 18, 2009 05:34 pm at 5:34 pm |

Kwesoe

I use to trust someone's words before observing their deeds, now I observe their deeds before I trust their words. It was on account of Carly Fiorina as CEO of HP that I have changed in that respect.

August 18, 2009 05:35 pm at 5:35 pm |

yuri

This is a catfight w/ potential disaster written all over it.

August 18, 2009 05:36 pm at 5:36 pm |

Dave

Get boxer out of the California political machine! If she thinks she has done such a great job they why is Califoirnia in such bad shape, broke, immigration out of control, and completely screwed up. This woman is a disaster. Put new blood in there and even if was Bozo the Clown they could no worse. Boxer is a liberal leach costing the State millions of dollars as she exponds on her idiot-ology. Between Boxer, Clinton, and Palosi we have a trio of women who are power hungary idiots that need to be foreced out of the political structure. They and their kind have helped this nation to reach the point it is in now from a position of power and prosparity. Need I say more?

August 18, 2009 05:36 pm at 5:36 pm |

F-Dog

Hopefully Fiorina will do better for the country than she did for HP.

August 18, 2009 05:37 pm at 5:37 pm |

Jesse

Thats pretty funny calling Carly Fiorina a failed CEO. I worked for HP for 10 years and let me tell you a few things. Trying to work your way up to the CEO of one of the largest computer companies in the world is almost impossible. You have be incredibly smart and well spoken. I have seen & heard Barbara Boxer for years and she is junior league compared to Carly Fiorina. Count your blessings California and hope she runs it will better your state.

August 18, 2009 05:38 pm at 5:38 pm |

Kick the bums out

“This is a person who was fired from Hewlett Packard for running the company into the ground, fired from the McCain Presidential Campaign for incompetence, and now thinks the people of California are going to hire her," said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesman Eric Schultz.

Perhaps she should give Illinois or Minnesota a run.

August 18, 2009 05:38 pm at 5:38 pm |

MARK

Carly Fiorina served as chief executive officer at Hewlett-Packard from 1999 to 2005. Fiorina served as an executive vice president at AT&T, and orchestrated the spinoff and initial public offering of Lucent, which became the most successful initial public offering in United States history up to that point in time. She might have failed at Hewlett-Packard but she suceeded in other ventures thay nobody has done.

August 18, 2009 05:39 pm at 5:39 pm |

EC

Fiorina is truly a JOKE. If this woman who ran HP into the TOILETS thinks Americans are going to give her access to our hard tax-paying dollars, she's really stuck on STUPID.

This woman was charged with ETHICS violations and drove HP over the cliffs financially and yet she walked about with a GOLDEN CEO Parachute!!!

It's no wonder Republicans continue to think Americans are stuck on stupid from the last 8 years!

Fiorina needs to SNAP OUTTA IT! Thanks, but NO thanks.

August 18, 2009 05:40 pm at 5:40 pm |

Georgia

That's all we need – is another failure in the GOP!!!!

You know she is going to be looking out for Middle Class American's instead of the Major Corporations – just like the rest of the Republican's do????